cleaning teeth

Whistlers

This response submitted by George on 5/2/01. ( georoof@aol.com ) 64.12.96.174

I'm ASSUMING you mean to get the meat and cartilage off of the teeth. If so, use a soft bristle wire wheel VERY SPARINGLY and only on the bases. Scrape most of it off with the edge of a scalpel blade. These teeth are ivory and you need to take particular car as they scratch easily. Don't even think about boiling them.

elk ivorys

put a small pot of water on the stove and get it to boil. drop teeth in and let simmer a few minutes. take out the teeth and scrape with a small knife and then use a small wire brush and some dawn detergent and brush those teeth clean. rinse and dry.

BOIL or not to BOIL

This response submitted by Michael s on 5/8/01. ( ) 64.12.96.174

i have never had the pleasure of working on an elk or the ivories, so what is the correct answer, boil or not boil ? and what would happen if you did boil them, i have seen boar tusks crack when boiling the jaws to pull them out, wouldnt the ivories become stained or possibly split and be ruined?

What I heard is.....

Well, I was given some ivory teeth from an Elk for a Birthday present one year...good thing I'm a taxidermist...anyway, the guy who gave them to me told me never to boil them. I haven't, so I don't know what would happen if you did. But, he told me that if you keep them in your pocket for a while they will shine and clean right up. Now, how much is a while, I don't know that either. And I usually have at least a pocket knife in there, and some coins, and God only knows what else, so I haven't tried this yet. And while none of what I've said probably helps, I just had to submit it anyway. Good luck.